Storage of oils and spirits and to the storage tanks therefor



Dec. 15, 1931.

c. H. L. WILKINS STORAGE OF OILS AND SPIRITS AND TO THE STORAGE TANKS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9, 1930 INVENT E L M IC/NS Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES OHARLES HORACE LEONARD WILKINS, 0F GROWS NEST, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH PATENT oi-"FICE WALES, AUSTRALIA STORAGE 0F OILS AND SPIRITS AND TO THE STORAGE TANKS THEREFOR Application filed. January 9, 1930, Serial- No.

This invention relates to the bulk storage of highly volatile oils and spirits and the like of a specific gravity less than unity and which will not mix with water (hereinafter referred to as the liquid or stored liquid) consequently estopped and for the above purposes this invention includes a suitable and novel storage tank for the liquid (having devices for the filling thereof and for the withdrawal therefrom of the liquid wholly or in part) wherein a column of Water is utilized to sustain above it the stored liquid against a diaphragm or the roof of the tank the while allowing necessary latitude of expansion or contraction conforming to thermal conditions and disallowing contact of the liquid with air as well as maintaining automatically by means of such column of water a head on the stored liquid. And the sustaining water is utilized for the evacuation of the air from the tank in the preliminary filling thereof and subsequently the filling liquid displaces such water and on withdrawal of the liquid the water is automatically replaced.

And according to this invention the storage tank has a superposed open vat or vessel formed by a coaming from its upper circumferential or peripheral edge and has its roof supported by a pipe or hollow pillar or a plurality of these within it which is or are open to the tank at bottom and to the mentioned top vat. A supply and delivery pipe has its inlet at the highest point of the roof of the tank and there are the usual drains. The vat is connected to a power water supply say through a float controlled supply valve and it preferably has an overflow pipe.

But in order that this invention may be readily carried into practical effect it will be described with reference to the drawings of the presently preferred construction of the storage tank whereby the invention is 419,673, and. in Australia January 30, 1929.

carried into practical eflect and wherein Fig. 1 is schematically a sectional elevation of the storage tank (the thickness of the walls thereof being shown as exaggerated) and Figures 2 and 3 are details of the filling dome and of the pillars foot respectively.

The tank 4 is constructed of such materialsand with such jointing of the various parts as well known. The roof 5 is slightly conical and is trussed as ordinarily though no more trussing is necessary than is sulficient to support its own weight for when in use there are forces (as hereinafter indicated) practically in equilibrium against each face of the roof. The wall 6 extends above the roof as a coaming 7 constituting a vat or reservoir 8 which may be open topped or closed as desired. Pipes or hollow pillars 9 constituting supports for the roof 5 are open to the vat 8 and each has ports 10 at or near the bottom of the tank 4: preferably equal in area to its internal sectional area and the height of these ports from the bottom of tank 4 is arbitrary but should be slightly less than the depth of surplus water desirably left at all times on the bottom of the tank 4. The number of pipes 9 or their combined area is determined by the displacement fiow of the liquid and the water and should be at least sufiicient to accommodate the latter. The liquid supply and delivery pipe 11 to the tank 4 enters through the tank wall 6 having outwardly thereof the usual control valves as indicated at 12 and an offset or a branch 13 therefrom reaching to a combined dome and lantern 14 (at the highest point of the tank) having ports 15 opening into the tank 4 and having a manhole door or cover 16. The top of pipe 13 is open to said dome l i and has a deflecting hood 17. The tank has the usual drain valve 18 and sounding pipe 19 (or a plurality of 'them) the latter extending above the highpipe 19 and has a valve 22 thereon. The vat 8 has an inlet 23 from a bulk reservoir or other power water supply with a float controlled inlet valve 24 and also has an overflow pipe 25 preferably above the inlet 23 so compensating for expansion of the liquids but necessarily above the level of the highest pillar 9.

In use for the storage of the liquid the tank 4 is first filled with water from vat 8 through the filling pipe 23 while the air vent 21 and sealing cap 20 are opened until all air is evacuated by transplacement of the water therefor. The liquid is then fed into the tank 4 (by means of a head or a pump) throu h the filling pipes 11 and 13 displacing t e water which is discharged through the ports 10 and pillars 9 into the Vat 8 whence any overflow passes through pipe 25 and so at all times the stored liquid fills the space of the displaced water without contact in any way with any air or the leaving of any air space above it whatsoever. The limit of capacity of the tank 4: is at that level of the liquid (which has displaced the'water) at any arbitrarily selected level whereat the greatest expansion of the liquid taking place,

such level will be just above the ports 10. As

the petrol and water expand or contract owing to changing thermal conditions thereabouts so water flows through the pillars 9 to or from the tank 4 or vat 8 and the head of water in the vat 8 and the pillars 9 main tains a pressure on the liquid and insures an even and steady flow when drawing it from the tank. Owing to the liquid flowing to the apex of the tank it is possible to practically remove it all from the tank with out drawing water with it. It is not possible to create unintentionally an excess pressure in the tank 4: for the water in the pillars 8 is at all times open to the atmosphere and the vat contents whether or not covered acts as a damper upon excessive changes of temperature of the active water and the liquid.

Such a storage tank may be easily adapted by any person skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to be incorporated in a ship or on wheels as a vehicle tank and in the application of the invention to a ship there is the advantage that with the tank or tanks in operation the ship is at all times in ballast.

It is to be clearly understood that this in 'vention is directed primarily to the storage of the liquid though it may advantageous- 1 be adapted to the storage of any volatile tliiids liquid or gaseous of a specific gravity less than unity which will not mix with water though it will not function at all for the storage of fluids heavier than water.

I claim 1. In a tank for the storage of volatile liquids, a horizontal partition dividing the tank into top and bottom compartments, a hollow member extending downwardly from the partition and opening at its upper end through said partition into the top compartment, the bottom of said member being in communication with the bottom compartment near the bottom thereof, means for the supply of water to said top compartment and through said hollow member to the bottom compartment, a'conduit for the supply and delivery of volatile liquid to and from the bottom compartment, said conduit extending upwardly through the bottom compartment and having its upper end open and disposed near the top of said bottom compartment, a dome surrounding the upper open end of said conduit and provided with outlet openings in communication with-the bottom compartment, a tube extending upwardly from said partition and opening through the same, a pipe connecting the top of said dome with said tube, and means normally closing the upper end of said tube operable to place said tube in communication with the atmosphere.

2. In a tank as set forth in claim 1, a hood overlying the upper open end of the supply and delivery conduit to effect a downward deflection of volatile liquid entering the dome through the open end of said conduit.

3. In a. tank for the storage of volatile liquids, a horizontal partition dividing the tank into top and bottom compartments, a hollow member extending downwardly from the partition and opening at its upper end through said partition into the top compartment, the bottom of said member being in communication with the bottom compartment near the bottom thereof, means for the supply of water to said top compartment and through said hollow member to the bottom compartment, a conduit for the su ply and delivery of volatile liquid to and rom the bottom compartment, said conduit extending upwardly through the bottom compartment and having its upper end open and disposed near the top of said bottom compartment, a dome surrounding the upper open end of said conduit and provided with outlet openings in communication with the bottom compartment, a hood within said dome overlying the upper open end of the supply and delivery conduit to effect a down ward deflection of volatile liquid entering the dome through the upper open end of said conduit, and means for ventlng the top of said dome to the atmosphere.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' CHARLES HORACE LEONARD WILKINS. 

